Drying apparatus



July '10, w23. MAMA@ J. F. HUGHES vDRYING APPARATUS Filed Oct. l2 1920 4Sheets-Sheet l July 10, 1923.

ummm@ J. F. HUGHES f DRYING APPARATUS Filed Oct. l2, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet2 J. F. HUGHES DRYING APPARATUS Filed OCC. 12, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 5July l0, 1923. LMLMS J. F. HUGHES DRYING APPARATUS Patented July 10,1923.

PrvrEN'r OFFICE.

JOHN E. HUGHES, or rENNs GROVE, NEW JERSEY.

DRYING APPARATUS.

Application led October 12, 1920. Serial No. 416,357.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN F. HUGHES, a citizen of the United States,residing at Penns Grove, in the county of Salem and State. of NewJersey, have'invented certain new and useful Improvements in DryingApparatus, ofwhich the following is a speciiication. i f Y i One objectyof my invention is to providel improved meansy which will facilitate andexpediteV thedrying of coloring material, dyesior thelike, such forVexample as used in the mixing ofpaint.' This`- material, which beforebeing dried is ina plastic condition, has lbeen found, prior to mypresent invention, exceptionally difficult to dry and usually is driedin shallow trays which is expensive and slow and the removal of thedriedmaterial from the trays is a tedious, slow and expensive operationWith the use of my improved apparatus, the material can be drieddirectly in barrels and the dried material can be permitted if desiredto remain inthe barrel until needed for use.'` A

Anotherobject is to so arrange the parts of my improved apparatusthatmaterial 4`'in a number of barrels can be simultaneously dried and thatthe drying action will be uniform so that all parts ofthe material willbe properlyfand thoroughly dried to suit ideal conditions.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be describedhereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had totheaccompanying drawings in which- Figure l is an enlarged fragmentaryelevation, partlyin section, showing one `full unit of my improveddrying apparatus in position to effect the drying of the material,Figure 2 is a view of the same general character as shown in Figure 1Vshowing' how a drying element can be either inserted in or'removed froma container, vsuch as a barrel, containing the material, y

Figure 3 is a fragmentary.sectional elevation showing the conductingmeans for the heating fluid and also illustrating the constructionwhereby the above mentioned heating element can be moved upwardly anddownwardly `with respect to the container,

` Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional perspective'vewtakenthrough a por-A tion of the above mentioned heating element,

Figure 5 is an elevation showing a stationary stripping or cleaningblade arranged relatively to a screen frame which maybe mounted in thebarrel; the screen being omitted, and

Figures 6 and 7 are respectively diagrammatic top plan view and sideelevation illustrating how a number of units of my improved apparatuscan be controlled to effect the drying of the material within a numberof the containers.

Referring to the drawings, 8 represents a vacuum or suction room orchamber which when in use has a vacuum established therein; said roomhaving a pipe 9 leading from its top, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, topermit suction of the air from the chamber and the floor 10 ofthe room,as shown in detail in Figures 1 and 2, is made hollow so as to have aheating fluid 11, such as hot water, passed therethrough to heat theinterior of the chamber. various positions has holes 12 therein intowhich closely fit turntables 13, each capable of supporting a barrel 14or other suitable container as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. Thesebarrels are arranged in rows as clearly shown in Figure 6 and directlyabove the barrels are supported inlet manifold pipes 15 whichcommunicate with a main inlet conduit 16 for a heating fluid, such forexample as hot water.

Another series of outlet manifold pipes 17 are positioned respectivelyabove the rows of barrels and communicate with a main header 18; saidheader 18 leading to the interior of the floor 10, as shown at 19, tosupply the floor with hot water, after which the hot water after passingthrough the floor will run out of an outlet pipe 20 as shown in Figures6 and 7. The water leads from the manifolds 15 through drying meanshereinafter described, prior to passing into the outlet manifolds 17.

Over each of the turntables 13 is mounted a supporting structure whichis illustrated in the form of a hanger 21 which lsupportsa collar 22which is secured to an .externally screw threaded pipe 23; said pipe`depending toward the turntable and fitting within the internal screwthreads of another pipe 241. yThis pipe 24: has a spider The floor l()au 25 secured thereto; said spider having a hand-wheel 26 securedthereto, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. A hollow drying element27, which consists of a tube ol substantially flattened tapered crosssection as shown in Figure 4, is made in the 'form ol a double helixwhich surrounds the pipe 24 and at its upper end is secured to thespider 25. In other words, the element 27 includes two communicatingspirally wound portions 28 and 29 which are connected with each other attheir top and which serve as conduits for the heating fluid in a mannernow to be described.

The upper end oi the pipe 23, as clearly shown in Figure 4, communicateswith a fitting 30 which is connected with the outlet manifolds 17 bymeans of pipes 31. The lower end of the spirally wound portion 29 of theheating element 2T is yconnected to a fitting 32 which communicates withthe interior of `the pipe 24. rIwo tubes `33 land 34 are positionedwithin the pipes 23 and 24 and are in screw threaded engagement witheach other -as shown in Figure 3; the lower end kof the tube 34 being incommunication with the bottom of the spiral portion 28 by means ot acoupling nipple 35 located within the fitting 32. The upper end oit the'tube 33 -is connected through the medium of la pipe 36 with the inletmanifold 15 and it is thus obvious that the'heating iiuid from the:inlet inanil'old 15 will pass downwardly through the tubes 33 and 34then upwardly Athrough the spiral portion 28, then downwardly throughthe spiral portion 29 into vtthe pipe 24, then upwardly through `thepipes 24 and 23 and 'through the pipe 31 yto the manifold 17. In this'manner 'all of the heating units will receive the `heat from theheating fluid after which the heating fluid will pass 'through theiioo'r 10 and out through the outlet "pipe 20. Each of the barrels 37has a frame 38 mounted therein; said Jframe including a screen 39. Astripper 40 depends within the `screen frame and is made substantiallyyolre or U-shaped, the upper ends of which are adapted to be attached tobraces 41 which are pivotally mounted on posts 42. The braces 4-1 arearranged in a series and have their opposite ends turned upwardly andsecured to the spiders 25, as clearly shown in Figure 1. Thus thestrippers 4()` are held against rotation. The material to be dried isplaced within the screen frames 38 and the barrels are rolled upon theturntables 13; the braces 41 being turned on their pivots, as shown inFigure 2, to permit this operation; it being noted that the spiralmembers 27 can be moved into an upper position above the barrels byturning the hand-wheels 26 "so that the pipes 24 will ride up on thepipes 23. To insert the drying elements 27 into the material, theIhand-wheels are turned in an opposite direction and the heatingelements will descend into theJ material within the screen frames 38.The pivoted braces can then be swung into the .position shown in Figure1 and secured by clamping screws 43. and the top ends of the strippers40 can be secured to the Vunder portions of the braces 41 by screws 44.The turntables 13 are then rotated by any suitable mechanism preferablyat a slow speed and the spiral heating element will tend to slightlyagitate the material and due tothe absorption of heat therefrom, thematerial will be thoroughly dried.

The mesh 'of the screens 39 'is preferably made suliiciently line tokeep the material, which as previously stated is originally in a plasticstate, within the continesv or" the screen trames during the dryingoperation so that the moisture of the material will be liberated at theouter surface of the frames and pass into the barrel, -I also.preferably employ auxiliary vacuum pipes 45, as shown in Figure l, forestablishing additional vacuum within the barrels between the frames 38and the inner surfaces of the' barrels so as to expedite the 'dryingoperation.

It will be noted that the heating fluid circulates through the spirallywound portions oit' the heating yelements 27 and the rotation of thematerial relatively to the spirally woundportions of the heating elementwill bring new portions of the material constantly adjacent the heatingelement so that the heat may be absorbed thereby and the material willbe kept -in a condition 'to permit the ready escape of the `moisture andsince the apparatus is confined within a chamber in which a vacuum orsu'ctionis established, Ithe vmoisture will be `quickly removed and 'thematerial will be thoroughly and uniformly dried.

To remove the heating elements 427 from the dried material which "is inpowdered form, it is merely Anecessary to rotate the handuvheels 26after the braces 41 have been released and swunginto the position shownin Figure 2. It will be noted that after Ithe heating element is removedthe barrel with the dried material and ythe vscreen ytlfie'rein can beAremoved 'from its position on the turntable and by raising the screenout of 'the barrel, theI dried material will remain in the barrel andcan be used when needed. The screen after preferably being VCleaned bythe strippers 40 of the frame `can be replaced in another barrelfand theoperation repeated. I am thus enabled to ldry vmaterial within a numbero'f containers and -in this manner the ldryingof such material as above-set vforth is aeilitated and can be accomplished at a low cost and atcomparatively great speed. v Y

By arranging the heating 'elementsi27 in spiral form they will easilycut their way into the material without greatly disturbing the mass whenthe elements are initially inserted and by making the spiral portions ofa construction including a wide surface area they will readily permitthe absorption of heat therefrom by the material to cause theevaporation of moisture. While I have described but one unit in detailit will be understood that any number of units can be utilized forexample as is shown di-agrammatically in Figures 5 and 6.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it willbe understood that the various parts of my invention mayV be changedwithout departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limitmyself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am atliberty to make such changes and alterationsas fairly come within 4thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is l. Apparatus of the character describedincluding a screenedy member for containing the material to be dried;and heating means adapted to` be inserted into the material within thescreened member; substantially as described.

2. Apparatus of the character described including a screened member forycontaining the material toV be dried; heating means` adapted. to beinserted into the material within the screened member; and means foreffecting relative rotation between the screened member and the heatingmeans; substantially as described.

8. Apparatus of the character described including a screened member forcontaining the material to be dried; heating means adapted to beinserted into the material within the screened member; means for movingsaid screened member; and scraping means adapted to scrape the materialfrom the inner surface of the screened member; substantially asdescribed.

4:. Apparatus of the character described including a screened member forcontaining the material to be dried, and heating means adapted to beinserted into the material within the screenedl member, the heating unitincluding a spirally wound conduit for a heating fluid.

5. Apparatus for drying material of the character described including acontainer; a screen frame adapted tohold the material; a heating elementadapted to be projected into the material Within the frame; and meansfor rotating said frame relatively to j the heating unit, said heatingunit inc uding a spirally wound portion; substantially as described.

6. Apparatus for drying material of the character described including acylindrical screen frame adapted to hold the material; and a heatingelement adapted to be pro jected into the material within the frame;substantially as described.

7. Apparatus for drying material of the character described including aoor having a hole therein; a turntable in register with said hole; acontainer for said material to be dried supported on said turntable; anda heating unit adapted to be projected into said material; substantiallyas described.

8. Apparatus for drying material of the character described including aiioor having a hole therein; a. turntable in register with said hole; acontainer for said material to be dried supported on said turntable; aheating unit adapted to be projected into said material,'said floorbeing a part of a chamber; and means for heating said floor;substantially as described.

9. Apparatus for drying material of the character described including afloor having a ho-le therein; a turntable in register with said hole; acontainer for said material to be dried supported on said turntable; aheating unit adapted to be projected into said material; said floorbeing a part of a chamber; means for heating said floor; and means forestablishing vacuum in said chamber; substantially as described.

l0. Apparatus for drying materia-l of the character described includinga floor; a turntable located adjacent the floor; a container formaterial to be dried positioned on said turntable, a screenedV frame insaid container; a stripper within said frame; means for preventingrelative rotation between said stripper and frame; and a heating unitadapted to be inserted within said screened frame; substantially asdescribed.

11;. Apparatus of the character described including a screened memberfor containing the material to be dried; heating means adapted to beinserted into the material within the screened member; means foreffecting relative rotation between the screened member and` the heatingmeans; and means for establishing suction at a position immediatelyadjacent said screened member; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. HUGHES.

Witnesses:

ELIZABETH GARBE, CHAs. E. Po'r'rs.

